Cam operating mechanism



Aug. 16, 1932.

L, E. HOWARD LM'LQZ CAM OPERATING MECHANI SM Original Filed Dec. 1l, 1.929

Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENr orf-'nie LESLIE ErHQWARD, 0F LOCKPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 'I O SIMONDS SAW STEEL COMPANY, OF FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS GAM OPERATlNGr MECHANISM kDrignal application led December'11,'1929, Serial No. 413,274.A Divided and this application led i October 30, 1930.A Serial No. 492,170.

rlhis invention relates to a device for actuating cams and it is particularly constructed for operating an edge cam in the form of a strip or endless band.

Objects of the invention arel to provide an apparatus in which a control element or cam may be actuated at a predetermined speed, the speed being variable, and to provide a structure whereby one cam element may readily be substituted for another of a different shape to obtain different motions in the member which the cam actuates.

The invention comprises a device by which a cam inthe form of a strip or endless band may be operated at a predetermined rate for controlling a cam follower in the particular manner desired, and further, if desired, comprises means whereby one cainmay be substituted for another of a different shape to actuate the cam follower in a different manner. The preferred embodiment includes a casing within which is mounted a sprocket operable at a predetermined speed, the sprocket wheel engaging with openings in the strip or band to actuate the cam.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the control element showingthecasing in section; and

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the control ap.- paratus showing the casing in section.

The apparatus comprises a casing` formed with upper and lowerparts 4 and 5 hinged together at 6 and slotted at 7 at either end of the casing betweenV the hinged sections, the slots being arranged to receive the control element E which is in the form of an elongate sheet of stiif material such as thin sheet metal,

lfiber board or the like having a longitudinal cam edge. rIhe control element or strip is automatically fed through theslots 7 by a sprocket wheel or roll 8 pivoted to the rear of the casing. A .pressure roll V9, supported above the sprocket wheel and having its axis parallel theretol is provided with a groove 10 to accommodate the teeth of the sprocket wheel and holds the element E in Contact with the periphery of the wheel 8, tlie-rollsS and 9 having their peripheries substantially in contact, the teeth of the wheel 8 being in line with the slots 7. The/roll 9 pushes the openings in the element E over the sprocket teeth for positive engagement therewith to provide a positive driving force on the cam. The control element E is provided along one longitudinal` edge with spaced openings or perforations 11 having a spacing corresponding to the sprockets ofthe wheel 8 and engageable thereby. This element is applied to the feeding apparatus merely by inserting one end of it in one of the slots 7 until it is picked up between wheels 8 and 9, the sprockets on the wheel engaging with the openings in the strip. When the element has been entirely fed between the rolls it may be removed manually from the opposite side, since the sprocket no longer engages the openm s.

2lgne edge of the control element E constitutes a cam shaped to actuate a controller or movable member k12 as the element feeds through the machine in accordance with predetermined desired movements for mechanism actuated thereby. As shown, the movable element'is attached to one end of a swinging arm 13 which is mounted on a rod 14, l

carried by bearings 15 on the casing.l A. spring 16 is mounted on the rod 14 and holds the movable element 12 against the cam edge ofthe control element E so that the motion' imparted thereto by the cam will be positive and the element will' follow the cam edge. While the cam or control element may be fed either at a constant or a variable rate, it is preferably driven at a Vconstant rate by a clock or other constant speed means connected to the shaft 17 of the sprocket wheel 8, the

driving member being constructed preferably Y to permit changes'in speed thereof in order to vary the time required for feeding a given length of the cani through the cam actuating device.

When a cam element which is not suiiiciently rigid to hold its shape is used in this structure, it is found desirable to us-e guiding plates to hold the element in position as it passes through the casing. For this I lprovide aV pair'of plates 2O and 21 preferably integral with the top 4 of the casing and extending inwardly from directly above the slots 7, and a pair of cooperating plates 22 oscillate as it is actuated by the cam. VAs.

shown most clearly in Fig. 2, the entrance slot 7 has projecting lips 25 which diverge to Y form a groove which will more readily permit insertion of the cam element.

F rom the foregoing it will be evident that this invention affords means' for effecting changes in t-he operation of mechanism controlled by a movable element throughout any desired period of time, the length of time being increased at will either by increasing the length of the control element or by changing the speed of the driving mechanism. It will also be understood that `the same cycle of operations may be automatically repeated as many times as desired merely by making the control element in the form of an endless band in which event the casing would have to be lopened to insert the band. It will, of course, be understood-that ordinarily a plurality of cam or control elements having their cam edges shaped differently to eifect the different variations desired would be .employed for different operations. It will also be understood that new control elements may be readily made by the user from blank bands perforated along one edgeV by cutting the other edge `to the desired contour.

This is a division of the application filed December 11,1929,Y Serial No. 413,274.

.It should be understoodthat the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only andY that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 'Y i 1. Apparatus of the character referred to comprising an elongate 'sheet of material having a longitudinal cam edge, means providing a passageway for guiding the sheet of material, means for feeding the sheet longitudinally through the passageway when the leading end of the sheet is inserted into the entrance of the passageway, `the' sheet being freely removablefrom saidmeans when its trailing end reaches the exit of the passageway, and a controller engageable with said edge as the sheet feeds throughsaid passage- Wayp x y Y 2. Apparatus of the character referred to comprising an elongate sheetiof material hav- 'a longitudinal cam edge, means providing a passageway for guidingY the sheet of material, means for feeding the Ysheet longitudinally throughzthe passageway when the ceiving andvfeeding a cam therebetween, the

combination of a casing enclosing these members, the casing comprising separable sections having mating edge portions shaped toprovide slots on opposite sides of the opposed feeding membersl for guidingy a cam asv itpasses to and from thesemembers.

1. In an apparatus of the class describedl comprising opposed members spaced for receiving and feeding a cam therebetwee'mthe combination'of a casing enclosing these members, the casing comprising separable sections having mating edge portions yshaped to provide slots on opposite sides of the opposed feeding members for guiding a cam Vas it passes to and from these members, and means carried by the lower section for supporting the cam as it passesbetween the feeding members and at least one of the slots.

5. In an apparatus of the Yclass described comprising opposed members spaced for 'receiving and feeding a cam therebetween, the combination of a casing enclosing these members, the casing comprising separate sections having mating edge portions shaped to 'provide slots on opposite sides of the" opposed feeding members for guiding a cam as it passes to and from these members, means carried by one casing sectionrand extending inwardly from at least one of the slots for guiding one face of the cam, and means carried by the other casing section in opposed relation to the latter means for guiding the other face of the cam. i f 6. The combination with upper andA lower opposed 'members spaced toreceive and to engage opposite sides of a cam plate for feeding the latterV therebetween, of av casing for enclosing .these membersjthe vcasing comprising upper and lower separable sections,

hinges Valongv one of the sides of the vcasing cam plate, projections on the driving roller for interlocking engagement with the cam plate, the driven roller having a groove positioned to receive the projections of the driving roller, and a cam plate having openings therein spaced to register with and to receive projections of the driven roller as these projections pass into the groove.

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising driving and driven rollers spaced to receive and to engage opposite sides of a cam plate, projections on the driving roller for interlocking engagement with the cam plate, the driven roller having a groove positioned to receive the projections of the driving roller, a cam plate having openings spaced therein to register with and to receive projections of the driven roller as these projections pass into the groove, the cam plate being released by the rollers for removal after passing therebetween, and means for rotating the driving roll at a predetermined speed.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a cam member having opposite faces extending to a longitudinal cam edge, said faces providing smooth, continuous and uninterrupted surfaces extending from end to end of said cam member, feed rolls spaced to engage said opposite faces for feeding the cam member therebetween, a controller engageable with said longitudinal cam edge, and means for supporting said controller for movement transversely of said longitudinal cam edge in a plane substantially parallel to a plane extending between and substantially equidistant from said opposite faces of said cam member.

Signed by me at Lockport, New York this 27th day of October, 1930.

LESLIE E. HOWARD. 

